Civil society NGO Repubblika has written to the head of the civil service, the Standards Commissioner and the Lands Authority over the severance package payments that were given to former PM Joseph Muscat, including an office at Sa Maison.

Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed on Thursday that the office was part of the agreement but would not give any further details.

Muscat reportedly received a package worth €120,000 when he stepped down as Prime Minister in 2020.

In a letter to the governor of the Lands Authority board, Repubblika said the office is being used for private purposes and was not transferred via a Parliamentary resolution or a call for offers.

It asked what the role of the Lands Authority was in the deal and what action it is taking to ensure that things were done in conformity with the law.

Repubblika also asked Standards Commissioner George Hyzler to investigate the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, in view of the ministerial code of ethics, which speaks about collective responsibility.

It said that, from the information that is available it seems that Muscat’s severance package was drafted on an ad hoc basis, after “secret” negotiations that did not follow established criteria.

Furthermore, the agreement does not seem to have been documented and, if it was, it was kept secret.

The agreement also includes the transfer of the Sa Maison office, which was not regulated by normal public property transfer procedures.

Repubblika said the taxpayer was made to pay for a package that was intended to convince Muscat to resign early.

To the Principal Permanent Secretary, Repubblika wrote that it was morfified by the fact that the severance package, paid out from public funds, was not transparent.

It asked Mario Cutajar to declare what Muscat was paid, what pending payments there are, if any, what perks Muscat still enjoys after his resignation, and what the terms of the transfer of the office are.

It said it was asking Cutajar these questions directly, adding that there were no ‘national security’ or other excuses to refrain from publishing such information.